About 200 people called the city's van program for information yesterday on alternative transportation to reach downtown Honolulu and Waikiki in the event of a bus strike.

City spokeswoman Carol Costa said the program will use a fleet of more than 100 seven-passenger vans to pick up passengers with reservations in the morning from seven locations islandwide and take them to town and back at the end of the day.

Costa said only 36 seats were filled yesterday, so there is still plenty of space for people that may be stranded without bus service. There will be no charge for the service.

"A lot of people just wanted information and wanted to know what the program is all about," Costa said. "People are getting nervous and are very concerned about what they are going to do."

Costa said some people were only interested in curb-to-curb service and others needed rides to places the vans will not go.

The van program's phone lines will not be staffed today but will have a recording. People who want to make reservations can leave a message, and calls will be returned Monday, she said.